Gov’t sets additional health protocols for establishments

The government is coming up with additional protocols for all establishments to strictly follow to ensure they are capable to handle any COVID situation in workplaces.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said an inter-agency technical working groups from DTI, Department of Health, and the Department of Labor and Employment together with some experts met Wednesday to discuss the improved protocols for establishments.

Among the additional protocols are for all businesses to appoint health officer, isolation facility within the premises, reengineering of the office layout, SOP or template on what to do during a situation like where to bring a COVID-positive, among others.

Lopez said that micro business enterprises, which have difficulties complying with the isolation room requirement must coordinate with the barangay level where there are shared quarantine facilities.

“We need to further strengthen our safety protocols by having health protocol officers, more training, and reporting of cases, isolation rooms in factories, premises and offices or arrangements in another area for shared facility for affected workers to augment the government isolation quarters,” said Lopez during an interview at One News Agenda.

So far, Lopez said that establishments have a high compliance rate of 90 to 100 percent for each protocol.  

Lopez also reiterated the call of medical professionals to use the PCR swab test instead of rapid rest, which only determines the anti-bodies of an individual but does not detect the virus. The conduct of rapid test was even blamed as potential source of transmission.   Already, the Department of Transportation has required mandatory wearing of face shields in public transportation. Lopez said the government will also distribute washable and reusable face masks for the poor communities for free.